Forsythia plant named &#39;Courtalyn&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Forsythia  plant is provided that is an induced mutation of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). The gamma radiation of buds was utilized to create the mutation. The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from the parent cultivar by the presence of a more uniform and compact upright growth habit which yields a plant approximately two-thirds the height of the parent cultivar. Showy golden yellow blossoms are presented over the entire plant in the springtime prior to the appearance of the leaves. The winter hardiness is good. The new cultivar is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/217,519 , filed Aug. 14, 2002, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/322,161, filed May 28, 1999 (now abandoned).

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL/CLASSIFICATION

Forsythia×intermedia/Forsythia Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Courtalyn’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct variety of Forsythia×intermedia plant is provided that is a mutation of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States).

The parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar is a branch sport of the ‘Spectabilis’ cultivar that originally was found in garden in a Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland.

When creating the new cultivar of the present invention during the 1970's, buds on one year-old stems of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar were irradiated with gamma rays of cobalt 60 and subsequently were observed. Such irradiation was carried out at the Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique located at Angers, France. The irradiated plants were isolated and were kept for one month in the winter in a cold room.

It was found that a single branch on a single plant following such irradiation possessed the characteristics of the Forsythia cultivar of the present invention. The characteristics of such new cultivar can be summarized as follows:

(a) forms a more uniform and regular upright growth habit than the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar,

(b) exhibits a more compact growth habit than the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar with shorter internode lengths and forms a plant that is approximately two-thirds the height of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar,

(c) forms attractive golden yellow blossoms over the entire plant in the springtime,

(d) propagates well by the use of softwood cuttings,

(e) is well suited for growing in containers, and

(f) exhibits good winter hardiness.

The new cultivar of the present invention well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape. Showy golden yellow blossoms are formed in abundance in the springtime before the leaves appear. The blossom configuration and color are the same as those of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The growth habit is graceful and is more uniformly appearing than that of the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The new cultivar forms more laterals and the shoots are more numerous giving the plant a fuller appearance. Fewer wild and non-uniform branches are formed. The leaves are substantially the same as those of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar.

The new cultivar has been found to readily undergo asexual propagation by the use of softwood cuttings. Roots readily form on such cuttings during the summer. The progeny following asexual propagation have been found to be stable in all respects. Such asexual propagation has been carried out at Angers, France, and elsewhere.

The new cultivar has been named the ‘Courtalyn’ cultivar and is being marketed under the WEEK-END trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical plants and plant parts of new cultivar when grown at Beaucouze, France.

FIG. 1 shows an array of typical plants of the new cultivar on Mar. 21, 1989.

FIG. 2 shows a closer view of a typical plant of the new cultivar on Apr. 1, 1986.

FIG. 3 shows typical branches, flowers, and buds of the new cultivar on Apr. 1, 1986.

FIG. 4 shows a closer view of typical flowers and buds of the new cultivar on Mar. 20, 2000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on the observation of plants of the new cultivar growing outdoors at Angers, France. Such plants had been asexually reproduced through the use of softwood cuttings. The color terminology utilized in the description that follows is to be accorded its ordinary dictionary significance. In some instances reference is made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

-   Origin: Induced mutation. Buds present on one year-old stems were     irradiated with gamma rays derived from cobalt 60. -   Parentage: ‘Lynwood’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). -   Classification: Forsythia×intermetia, cv. ‘Courtalyn’. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—well-branched flowering shrub.         -   Habit.—upright, graceful, and compact. The plant has a             fuller more uniform appearance with fewer wild branches than             the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar.         -   Internode length.—shorter than that of the parent ‘Lynwood’             cultivar. The internode length commonly is approximately 4.7             cm on average. This compares to an internode length for the             ‘Lynwood’ cultivar of approximately 5.5 cm.         -   Height.—approximately two-thirds that of the parent             ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The plant size is highly dependent upon             climatic and soil conditions, as well as upon the degree of             pruning (if any). A twelve year-old plant of the ‘Courtalyn’             cultivar that has been trimmed regularly commonly will             exhibit a height of approximately 1.5 meters. The ‘Lynwood’             cultivar commonly will assume a height of approximately 2             meters under the same conditions.         -   Width.—a twelve year-old plant of the ‘Courtalyn’ cultivar             that has been trimmed regularly commonly will exhibit a             width of approximately 1 meter.         -   Stems.—a one year-old stem typically is Yellow-Green Group             152C in coloration. However, very young stem portions facing             the sun are near Greyed-Orange Group 177A in coloration.         -   Lenticels.—irregularly present between internodes in a             sparse quantity, small, and commonly less than 1 mm in size.         -   Branch angles.—typically approximately 30 to 40 degrees. -   Foliage:     -   -   Disposition.—opposite.         -   Configuration.—substantially the same as that of the parent             ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. Such configuration is lanceolate with an             acuminate tip and an attenuate base.         -   Leaf time.—depends upon the climatic conditions that are             encountered to break dormancy. Leafing commonly occurs             towards the end of March to approximately mid-April.         -   Size.—generally smaller in size than those of the ‘Lynwood’             cultivar. During mid-July typical leaves from the central             portion of well-developed shoots on a pruned plant commonly             measure approximately 8 cm in length and approximately 2.9             cm in width. This compares to a length of approximately 10             cm and a width of approximately 3.8 cm for the ‘Lynwood’             cultivar.         -   Petiole.—commonly approximately 2 cm in length. This             compares to a length of approximately 2.8 cm for the             ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The coloration is near Yellow-Green             Group 144B when shaded and near Yellow-Green Group 152A when             fully exposed to the sun.         -   Color.—substantially the same as that of the parent             ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The leaves on a fully mature limb             commonly approach R.H.S. Yellow-Green Group 146A on the             upper surface and Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under             surface. The young growing leaves tend to be lighter and             approach Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration on the upper             and under surfaces.         -   Stipules.—not present.         -   Leaf drop.—during mid-November at Angers, France. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Configuration.—funnel-shaped and substantially the same but             slightly larger than the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The tube             length commonly is approximately 5.8 mm. This compares to             approximately 5.3 mm for the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar.         -   Size.—substantially the same as the parent ‘Lynwood’             cultivar.         -   Petal number.—four, and the same as the entire species.         -   Petal shape.—rounded.         -   Petal size.—approximately 1.6 cm in length and approximately             0.8 cm in width.         -   Color.—showy, golden yellow and substantially the same as             the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. The same coloration is             present on both petal surfaces. Commonly the coloration is             Yellow Group 12A. This can be compared to Yellow Group 9A             for the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar.         -   Stamens.—commonly extend slightly above the pistil. The             filaments commonly are approximately 3.95 mm in length and             the anthers positioned on the filaments commonly measure             approximately 2.45 mm. The coloration is Yellow Group 12A.         -   Pistil.—commonly measures approximately 4 mm in height. The             coloration is Yellow Group 12A.         -   Pollen.—formed but not presently available for observation             and further characterization.         -   Peduncle.—approximately 10.5 mm in length, approximately 2             mm in diameter, and the coloration is light yellow-green,             approaching Yellow-Green Group 154A.         -   Fragrance.—none.         -   Disposition.—spread substantially evenly throughout the             plant (as illustrated). More freely on one year-old shoots             than displayed by the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar.         -   Time of flowering.—prior to formation of leaves. During 1990             to 1993 commonly bloomed for 15 to 25 days at Angers,             France. The earliest blooming date was February 25th and the             latest blooming date was April 10th. This compares to a             blooming duration of 10 to 20 days for the parent ‘Lynwood’             cultivar. Also, the earliest blooming date was February 20th             and the latest blooming date was March 30th for the             ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. Often the new cultivar flowers slightly             earlier than the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar.         -   Lastingness.—a typical flower commonly lasts approximately             15 to 20 days on the plant. The blossom life is influenced             by the weather conditions that are encountered.         -   Fruit bearing.—none. -   Growing conditions: Does well in full sun, and prefers soil that is     not exceedingly dry. -   Disease resistance: Substantially the same as that of the parent     ‘Lynwood’ cultivar and not particularly susceptible to diseases. The     slight presence of Pseudomonas and Botrytis may be observed in the     springtime following blooming. -   Hardiness: Very good as is the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar. Has     withstood temperatures of −18° C. at Angers, France. -   Propagation: Can be readily propagated while utilizing softwood     cuttings. -   Usage: Attractive erect ornamental spring-flowering shrub for the     landscape that requires little care. 

1. A new and distinct Forsythia cultivar that is a mutation of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar having the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms a more uniform and regular growth habit than the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar, (b) exhibits a more compact growth habit than the parent ‘Lynwood’ cultivar with shorter internode lengths and forms a plant that is approximately two-thirds the height of the ‘Lynwood’ cultivar, (c) forms attractive golden yellow blossoms over the entire plant in the springtime, (d) propagates well by the use of softwood cuttings, (e) is well suited for growing in containers, and (f) exhibits good winter hardiness; substantially as illustrated and described. 